Smaller company indices finished the month sharply lower, as the crisis affecting credit markets meant that asset classes thought to be of higher risk were vulnerable during periodic flights-to-quality. However, they fared only marginally worse than their largecap counterparts, as the problems of the financial system affected companies across all market capitalisations. The MSCI World Small Cap index declined by 11.2% (£, total return) over the month.Away from financials, broad economic data showed that economic conditions deteriorated across much of the world, with unemployment levels rising. Ireland became the first country in the eurozone to enter a technical recession. More positively, commodity prices fell, easing inflationary pressures enough for the People's Bank of China to reduce interest rates for the first time in six years. Oil prices fell by 13% as slowing global economic growth was expected to reduce demand.